In the back of our house, the tiny patio is surrounded by concrete planter things that were built into the ground. H is currently cleaning these out and preparing them for planting (don't ask why we just decided to do this in the middle of August). We have no idea what the hell we are doing. I don't like playing with dirt, so he's doing all the work; I'm giving the directions. What can we plant in there at this time of year?

[sunrise]

I'm not sure what you can plant in there right now, but if you wait until Fall, you will have a lot more options. Fall is a great time to plant stuff, such as perennials, shrubs, and trees. The idea is to plant them after the heat/water stress of the summer.

If you plant anything now, it should probably be just Summer/Annual bedding plants, and you will have to water them very well. These are the typical things like marigolds and geraniums, but others too. (I happen not to be a fan of this sort of planting, but the time of year limits the options.) After they are done blooming, they will die, and you will need to pull them out, then you can plant more permanent stuff in the Fall, and they will look great in the spring.

There are also Fall bedding plants, for Fall color. A popular one in my area is ornamental cabbages. Doesn't sound great, but in late Fall and even Winter, they are very colorful in an otherwise barren garden.
Ornamental Cabbages

Also, in the Fall you can plant bulbs like tulips and daffodils for the following spring.

If you want to plant perennials in the Fall, let me know, and I will tell you some of my faves.

Good luck!

[Karissa258]

I think it depends on what part of the country you live in. You know what I'd do is a) ask a neighbor who seems to like to garden, and/or b) go to your local garden center and ask them, then buy what they suggest. It might be nice to take your husband too, so you can get things you both like.

[Karissa258]

I think it depends on what part of the country you live in. You know what I'd do is a) ask a neighbor who seems to like to garden, and/or b) go to your local garden center and ask them, then buy what they suggest. It might be nice to take your husband too, so you can get things you both like.

[skeksi]

I wouldn't plant them right now, but two great plants for patio gardens are liriope and arborvitae. They both provide a rich green color for the patio (the arborvitae stay green year-round) without bing particularly sensitive to over or under watering. They are great beginner plants!

I'm in Philadelphia-- so we get "all" seasons-- 50s and 40s in the fall-- can get into the teens in the winter... right now it is in the 80s... Can you plant stuff that lasts in winter? Sorry if I am asking really stupid questions, but we have really never done this before.

[skeksi]

The only way to learn is to ask! I started with a couple of patio plants three years ago, and now gardening is one of my favorite activities. It focuses me.

Anyway, a gardening zone map helps you find the kind of plants for your area (you live in zone 6--same as me!). If you google zone 6 plants, you'll find you have a long list of options.

There are two types of flowering plants--perennials, which re-flower each year, and annuals, which last only one season. There are some plants that will flower in the winter, like alyssum . Some plants die back in the winter, so your pots look empty. Others stay green all winter. For this reason, if space allows, it can help to plant a mixture of plants in or among your pots.

Are you looking for flowers, plants, or evergreen shrubs to put in your pots?

[Slippers]

It will depend on how much sun you have in that area. Check that out and prepare to answer that question - how many hours of direct sunlight do they get? Go to your local nursery and ask what to plant - it may actually be time for mums!

You could also plan ahead for spring and start ordering bulbs for next year. It would be nice to see some early spring colors, eh?

[nothemama8]

hey pinksoil, do what we do, in the winter we stick artificial greens and pointsettias , looks real pretty
Angie